Canadian Court Finds Khadr's Rights Were Violated

Today the Canadian Supreme Court found that Guantánamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr's rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights were violated by the Canadian officials who interrogated him during his detention in U.S. custody. The court stopped short of ordering the Canadian government to repatriate Khadr, which is unfortunate, because that's exactly what we think should happen next.

This decision underscores the need for the U.S. to reverse its decision to prosecute Omar Khadr before an illegal military commission. As a teenager, Omar Khadr was subjected to abusive interrogations and sleep deprivation by U.S. officials without access to court or counsel, and with no regard for his status as a juvenile. It is encouraging that the Canadian justice system has found that this is no way to treat youth in detention, and recognized that Omar Khadr's rights continue to be violated.